'No One Should Go Beyond Law': Ajit Pawar Reacts To Eknath Shinde Parody Amid Political Slugfest

Last Updated:March 24, 2025, 11:05 IST

Comedian Kunal Kamra's jibe at Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde led to political squabbling. Shinde's faction ransacked a hotel and threatened Kamra. Uddhav's faction supported Kamra as BJP and Congress debated over freedom of speech.

Kunal Kamra mocks Eknath Shinde (Photo: X/ Kunal Kamra, PTI)

Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday said that no one should go beyond the law while commenting on the ruckus over comedian Kunal Kamra’s joke on the state’s other Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Pawar’s comment came at a time when the leaders of various parties engaged in political squabbling over Kamra’s jibe at Shinde in a stand-up act on Sunday.

Kamra, while performing at The Unicontinental Mumbai in Mumbai’s Khar, called Shinde a “traitor" and used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ to take a dig at the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray.

Soon after the performance, the party workers of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) ransacked the office of the hotel and threatened the comedian with “dire consequences".

Clearing his stand on the incident, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that “no one should go beyond the law". “The constitution has given us all the right to speak but we should speak only what is in our right, ideological opinion can be different, ideology can be different. There can be differences of opinion, but it should be kept in mind that your words should not cause any problem to the police or law and order. Every responsible citizen should keep this in mind," he added.

Shiv Shena (Eknath Shinde faction) leaders also threatened Kamra with dire consequences over his remarks.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde said that the party workers are angry with his comments. “The comedian will receive ‘Shiv Sena treatment,’ as none of the Shiv Sainiks have liked his statements," Hegde warned.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Sanjay Nirupam also threatened the comedian on social media platform X and said that he would be “thrashed" at 11 am today.

The party’s Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske accused Kamra of taking money from Thackeray to target the Maharashtra deputy chief minister.

“Kamra is a contract comedian. But he should not have stepped on the tail of a snake. Once the fangs are out, there will be dire consequences…We will make sure you cannot move freely throughout the country. We are Shiv Sainiks of the late Balasaheb Thackeray. If we start following you, you will have to leave the country," Mhaske said.

Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel registered an FIR against Kamra at the MIDC police station. Patel said that Kamra has shown “his level" and demanded an apology from him.

“I want to tell him to apologise to Eknath Shinde within two days otherwise Shiv Sainiks will not let him move about freely in Mumbai. If he is seen anywhere in public, we will paint his face black. We will take up this issue in the assembly and request our state’s home minister to order action against him as soon as possible," Patel said.

A Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal requested the Mumbai Police to register an FIR against Kamra. In his complaint, Kanal said that Kamra’s statements “hurt public sentiments".

“While constructive criticism of public figures is always welcomed, such close, demeaning, and defamatory statements go beyond reasonable limits and constitute cognisable criminal offences," he said in the letter.

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC said that calling Maharashtra’s Deputy CM “gaddaar (traitor) is not comedy but vulgarity".

“This is not comedy but vulgarity. Who is this Kunal Kamra who has been hired and used as a puppet by UBT as a diversionary tactic? Can you go to this level for cheap publicity? Perhaps you do not know that Eknath Shinde was an autorickshaw driver who became a CM. This is aspirational, not comedy. What is going to become of you is a tragedy," said the leader.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra MoS Home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam said, “Constitution has provided freedom of speech. It doesn’t give you the right to insult those occupying Constitutional positions." Speaking about the vandalism, he said that “whatever action is required, will be taken."

However, leaders of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) backed Kamra and raised questions over the state’s law and order situation.

In a post on X, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Aaditya Thackeray said, “Mindhe’s (a term used by the opposition for Mr Shinde – a Marathi word meaning subservient, as a taunt) coward gang breaks the comedy show stage where comedian Kunal Kamra put out a song on Eknath Mindhe which was 100% true. Only an insecure coward would react to a song by someone. Btw law and order in the state? Another attempt to undermine the CM and Home Minister by eknath mindhe."

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Sanjay Raut also slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government and called him a weak leader in the wake of the act of vandalism.

BJP, Congress Engage In Political Squabbling Over Kamra’s Shinde Joke

BJP and Congress also engaged in political squabbling and debated over the freedom of speech over Kamra’s dig at Shinde.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam accused Kamra of using derogatory language for top leaders of the country and journalists for petty publicity.

“Will he say anything for anyone in the name of freedom of expression? Eknath Shinde is the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, he is a former CM. Will he (Kamra) say this for him? This is an insult to the land of Maharashtra. Whose contract is he working on? Thackeray faction? Look at the timing. Did Kunal Kamra deliberately choose this time to distract people as soon as Thackeray family’s name appeared in Disha Salian case? That too on the behest of Thackeray faction? What is the reason? It’s time to blacken his face wherever one sees him. Maharashtra Government will take strict action against Kunal Karma, we warn him that he cannot use derogatory language for petty publicity," said Kadam, while speaking to ANI.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders criticised vandalism by Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) workers and said that this is against freedom of speech.

Congress leader Atul Londhe said, “I do not support the vandalism. You are holding a Constitutional post…Your sentiments get easily hurt, you should have approached the Police and got a complaint registered. Nobody can be given the right to vandalise in a legal system. There is a rule of law…As far as what Kunal Kamra said, he is a comedian and writer – he comments on what happens in society. If you are so bothered by stand-up comedy, by the language used there, then shut it down completely…Why are you so scared of remarks? This is against freedom of speech, against the Constitution…"

Meanwhile, Congress MP Imran Masood called the incident “unfortunate" and said that “these people are destroying Maharashtra".

“It is a state that leads the national economic progress and gets investment… The environment which they are creating in Maharashtra, no investors will come here. The youth of Maharashtra is forced to migrate… Maharashtra will become worse than most states. There cannot be a bigger example of it than West Bengal. Where West Bengal used to be at one point, now look at its condition now… Investors want peace and the rule of law… They (the Maharashtra government) are not able to tolerate criticism. The Opposition’s job is to show the mirror to the ruling party. They are not able to bear it," said Masood.

News politics 'No One Should Go Beyond Law': Ajit Pawar Reacts To Eknath Shinde Parody Amid Political Slugfest